My Sister Lost Everything

In late August, catastrophic flooding damaged and destroyed more than 100,000 homes across Lousiana.  

My sister Catherine's was one of them. She and her family lost everything. Their home, their two cars, the storage barn that housed their antique business --- all of it.

FEMA has offered them a small token amount of money, and insurance will cover the cars. But for everything else, they're on their own.

The house repairs alone will cost $96,000 and take months to complete. In the meantime, Catherine, her husband Mike, their son Evan, and his two small children are sleeping on floors and couches at a family member's house.

I talk to my sister every day and often she is in tears as she describes the frustration, desperation, and hopelessness of dealing with government agencies that are of little help and just don't seem to care. 

Tens of thousands like her face similarly bleak outlooks.

It's the worst disaster to hit the U.S. since superstorm Sandy, but you'd be forgiven for not knowing much about it. The media turned their attention elsewhere after a few days of spotty coverage, and have been largely silent since. 

"Does the rest of the country even know about us?" my sister asked me the other day. "Does anyone care?" 

She and her neighbors feel isolated and abandoned. 

I want her to know that people do care, that they would help if they understood what was going on down there. So I've set up this fund on her behalf.

Would you please consider helping my sister Catherine and her family rebuild their home with a small donation?

Any amount is appreciated, every dollar helps, and every show of support will let them know they're not forgotten. I (and they) thank you so much in advance for your generosity and compassion. 

Yours gratefully,

Beth Bodenheimer and Nik Dessle 

P.S. Here's more information about the flood's grim toll: 
http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/16/us/louisiana-flooding-by-the-numbers/